By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has adopted a warning to physicians about the prospect of overdoses, caused by combined prescribing of opioid pain killers and benzodiazepines, including anxiety drugs, such as Valium and Xanax.
The warning was proposed in February, 2016 by Rhode Island Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander Scott and the head of the Baltimore, Maryland health department.
“This just gives an opportunity across the board to raise awareness about the dangers of co-prescribing for those who might not have been aware,” said Dr. Alexander-Scott.
In a statement, the FDA said the so-called “black box” label it is requiring to be placed on drug labels note the prospect of “serious risks and death from combined use”.
“Risks include extreme sleepiness, respiratory depression, coma and death. Today’s actions are one of a number of steps the FDA is taking as part of the agency’s Opioids Action Plan, which focuses on policies aimed at reversing the prescription opioid abuse epidemic, while still providing patients in pain access to effective and appropriate pain management,” the FDA said in a statement.
“This is a huge accomplishment with Rhode Island as a leader, to be able to say the FDA heard us,” said Dr. Alexander-Scott.
